🇳🇬 Job Vacancies @ International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) – 3 Positions

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

1.) Head Administration, West Africa Hub
2.) Head, Legal Services
3.) Business Development Manager (Innovative Finance)

Ref: DDG-R4D/HA/WAH/11/22
Location: Ibadan, Oyo

Background

• In Western Africa, IITA works across six countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Ecologically, West Africa comprises various areas from the sub humid and mostly dry Guinea and Sudan savanna in the north to the more southern humid forests that receive ample rainfall.
• Our mandate in Western Africa is to strengthen our R4D capacity in key farming systems located in these major agro ecological zones, targeting farmers in various climates and pushing area-specific innovations. Therefore, in West Africa, we want to consolidate the gains for cassava, enhance and diversify maize–legume farming system integration in the moist savannas, promote cereal, cowpea and livestock integration in the dry savannas, and develop high-value crops and enterprises suited to each of these different impact zones.
• Our research facilities include laboratories for biotechnology, plant health sciences, GIS, biometrics, and crop utilization. The Hub hosts the Genetic Resources Center that conserves global accessions of crop species and their wild relatives and the world’s largest collection of cowpea. Similarly, the Biodiversity Center at our station in Benin maintains thousands of samples of insects, and is responsible for the largest collection of insects and microorganisms in West Africa.

Position Responsibilities
At the Regional Hub, IITA-Ibadan

• Provide administrative oversight of the Regional Hub Office at IITA-Ibadan including liaison with relevant HQ units to ensure adequate administrative and logistics support interms of procurement, maintenance, staff issues, etc. to R4D staff.
• Supervise regional R4D support staff in IITA-Western Africa.
• Provide supervision for administration in the Sahel Hub and act as liaison between Sahel Hub and Headquarters.
• Supervise three secretaries assigned to support R4D staff in three work areas: Building 400, Building 401, and Bioscience Center.
• Review and monitor allocated budgets.
• Facilitate R4D space allocation.
• Support the proper management of the Research Farm.
• Support the management of Screen houses.
• Organize regular monitoring tours of research sites and plant growth facilities for the R4D Director and staff.
• Enhance visibility of IITA-Western Africa by ensuring regular mapping of, and communication on, geographic locations of active IITA projects in the region.
• Serve on relevant committees e.g. Farm Committee, Science Procurement Advisory Group.
• Manage the R4D seminar series and monthly meetings of WA IRS.

Support to the Region:

• Supervise Station Administrators of IITA locations in Western Africa (currently at Cotonou, Accra, Tamale, Freetown, Kano, and Abuja).
• Provide administrative support, including budgetary oversight, to station administrators of IITA locations in Western Africa.
• Assist these IITA locations with streamlining general administrative policies and procedures to comply with IITA institute policies and local laws and norms.
• Assist with the personnel policies and procedures for the NRS and IRS, including remuneration reviews and monetization policy.
• Assist with streamlining the Station Imprest Accounting procedure.
• Assist with Materials Management (inventory, maintenance, local and international purchasing and asset disposal).
• Ensure that all on station experimental farms are properly maintained.

Support to the One CGIAR Transition Process:

• Assist IITA’s Management with creating awareness and understanding in your Hub about the one CGIAR transition process.
• Work together with IITA’s Hub Director, the CGIAR Regional Director, Country Conveners and others in your Hub to facilitate administrative and financial processes of the One CGIAR transition as well as the migration to policies and integrated services.
• Facilitate IITA’s and other hosted staff in carrying out their CGIAR Research Initiativeengagements.
• Work together with local and global facilities management colleagues to support excellence in facilities, and the management and maintenance of IITA’s physical assets in the Hub.
• Perform other job-related duties as may be assigned by your supervisor.

Educational Qualifications

• The candidate should have a Post Graduate Degree or a Graduate Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Finance, Accounting, or any related course with significant administrative experience.

Core Competencies:

• Minimum of five (5) years experience of working with a development organization in a senior administrative capacity.
• Basic knowledge of Accounting, Knowledge of accounting software used in IITA would be an asset.
• Experience in a multidisciplinary research organization and cross-cultural environment, preferably in a not-for-profit organization.
• Experience as a manager of staff and a team builder.
• Proficiency in at least one major enterprise management system (oracle, sun, platinum SAGE, etc.) and relevant computer applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is essential. Knowledge of French Language would be an added advantage.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) awareness and understanding.
• Highly effective planning, organizational, and multi‐tasking skills with a positive attitude and strong administrative service orientation.

General information

• The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars.

Application Closing Date
26th November, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Applications Information

• Applications must include a cover letter, which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, and names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head of Human Resources.
• IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.
• While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Ref: DDG-CS/H/LS/11/22
Location: Ibadan, Oyo

Background

• We are looking for an experienced Legal Professional with excellent people skills, experience in Legal Advocacy & Advisory, Contract and Agreement Administration, Project Management, Due Diligence and Compliance.
• The candidate should have relevant work experience in an international, multicultural organization or company, with experience in Africa, ideally with Nigeria experience. Reporting to the Deputy Director General, Corporate Services, the Head of Legal Services will be responsible for leading IITA’s legal unit to provide legal services and advice to IITA.
• This includes High quality legal advice to IITA’s Board of Trustees, Senior Management Team, Directorates, and work units on all operational matter, covering areas relating to project documents, regulatory compliance, legal risk assessment and mitigation, legal implications of policy development and implementation and legal HR issues.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the Legal Unit of IITA.
• Offer expert and strategic legal advice/ opinion to IITA’s Board of Trustees, Senior Management team, Directorates, and work units.
• Review the legal risk involved in various institutional collaborative arrangements/ partnerships, identify existing and emerging institutional legal and regulatory issues, including sanction regimes, national and international laws and ethics regulations, which may affect IITA’s operations and advice IITA on the likely impact of such and on strategies to mitigate risks.
• Deliver comprehensive review of legal documentation and provide legal documentation and interpretation when needed.
• Provide templates for and support the drafting, negotiation and finalization of all institute's agreement and legal documents, including, but not limited to, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs); Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs); contract agreements and sub-contract agreements (including work plans and budgets) and No Cost Extensions (NCEs) for both donors and partners; Host Country Agreements; Hosting Agreements; Tenancy Agreement; Licensing and other Commercial Agreements, and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs).
• Advice management on legal implications of policies and procedures within IITA.
• Represent IITA, or participate in delegations, before relevant government agencies or forums where legal issues are contemplated.
• Contact person with IITA’s Nigeria retained external law firm and where needed assist staff in IITA’s Hubs and Station in their relations with retained lawyers.
• Manage and provide support across the institute in IP-related and other legal issues.
• Manage IP related issues and work related to the CGIAR Intellectual Assets (IA) policies and regulations, including the maintenance of an IA register.
• Support Open Access (OA) related issues, reporting, and related policies.
• Monitor policies, programs, or procedures to ensure compliance with internal policies, licensing requirements, and other government or donor requirements, policies, and directives.
• Motivate team members, communicate career, and job expectations; plan, monitor, evaluate and review job contributions of legal Service Unit staff.
• Ensure capacity development of IITA’s legal professionals.
• Facilitate the education of IITA staff on best practices and procedures around compliance with legal documents, policies and procedures and create awareness amongst relevant IITA staff, on IP, OA, and legal risks.
• Develop the budget for the Legal Services Unit’s operations and implement an efficient and effective cost spending.
• Work together with CGIAR Governance and Corporate Affairs Department staff and other relevant staff of the CGIAR on Legal Services related matters, policies, and regulations.
• Perform any other job-related duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Educational Qualifications

• The candidate should have a Bachelor of Laws LL.B from a recognized university, with a B.L Qualifying Bar Exam and Certificate of Call to Bar from a recognized Bar Association.

Core Competencies:

• Relevant work experience of at least 15 years, with at least 6 years in a management function in an international, multicultural organization or company, with experience in Africa, ideally with Nigeria experience.
• Good grasps of relevant laws, including, but not limited to, laws governing international organizations, Intellectual property (IP) laws, international laws and treaties, labor laws and corporate government laws.
• Excellent communication and people skills.
• Excellent negotiation and diplomatic skills.
• Committed and dependable, having high ethical standards, and having the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Good organizational skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent critical / analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion (GDI) awareness and understanding, and strong cultural awareness.
• Fluency in English with excellent verbal and written communication skills; working knowledge of French would be an advantage. Duty Station: IITA-Headquarters, Ibadan, Nigeria with requirement to travel to other stations in Africa.

General information

• The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.

Application Closing Date
18th November, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Applications Information

• Applications must include a covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background / experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, and names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor / Superior at his/her present or former place of work).
• The application should be addressed to the Head of Human Resources.
• IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.
• While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shorrtlisted candidates will be contacted.

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2022-014
Location: Kano
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)
Contract: 1-year renewable contract

Duties

• Be responsible for developing and managing commercial and public sector partnerships for scaling the distribution of climate-tolerant biofortified seed and other inputs and enabling forward linkages with leading firms in the food and agribusiness sector.
• Develop a sustainable market system approach to HarvestPlus development activities under the Propcom+ initiative. Facilitate value chain arrangements like contract farming, bundling, and retail farmer and SME financing (including credit, savings, and insurance products).
• Support HarvestPlus in developing high-quality technical assistance packages, embedding these with relevant local TA suppliers and working in close collaboration with relevant sectoral stakeholders and ensuring change efforts are sustainable past the end of the project.
• Understand the ecosystem of market system participants and their inter-relationships in the target value chains namely Vit A Maize, cowpea, Vit A Cassava, and iron pearl millet.
• Review and provide input on scale strategy of the project.
• Support work planning for systemic interventions that will generate results and target numbers as laid in the program results framework. Review activities to date with Lead Firms and plan for new activities to scale up interventions or work with new partners (for e.g. large distributors, agro-dealers, processors, financiers, food businesses) to catalyze systemic change.
• Help design appropriate partnership models and delivery approaches for new partners.
• Review the program’s systemic activities and results framework and contribute to the work plan for market systems activities with lead firms, commercial financiers and social organizations.
• Support the alignment of Propcom+ systemic approach to market systems development with partner contract results and indicator targets and facilitate regular reporting.
• Constantly review and iterate on the project design with the aim of improving how the project facilitates innovation, change, and sustainability.
• Work with partners to identify TA needs and facilitate local TA delivery.
• Work with other team members and external stakeholders on stakeholder engagement events for business planning, and state and federal policy.
• Help the Program lead manage and build the capacity of two-three state coordinators.
• Support the identification and development of new projects leveraging the activity under Propcom+.
• Perform any other job-related task as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

• Master's in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, or any other related field with a minimum of six (6) years of experience performing a similar or related role in a well-structured organization.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must:

• Have good writing skills and high competency on Microsoft excel.
• Have the ability to communicate fluently in Hausa language.
• Have experience working both with leading agribusinesses and commercial financiers.
• Have strong networks among agriculture stakeholders including producers, processors, input providers, traders, financiers and government.
• Have excellent organizational skills and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment, expert problem-solving, and creativity.
• Have the willingness and ability to travel extensively.
• Have Familiarity with donor-funded agriculture activities.
• Have excellent communication skills in Hausa Language.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
15th November, 2022

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed cover letter and curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format no later than Application Closing Date.
• The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague, and evidence of current remuneration package.
• IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.
• While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.